Session 1, Mon 22.01.2018, 10-13h CET

10:10h: The
live transmission is on! Head of Spanish Delegation presenting introductory
statement ...

12:31h:
(Video
@ 2:33:35)YAY!! Second round of questions, CRC task force
coordinator and vice chairperson Ms. Olga Khazova [...] raises
intersex children! Says the Committee is concerned about
non-consensual genital mutilation and other detrimental treatment
imposed on intersex children in various clinics in Spain, which is
often unnecessary and always very painful, with lifelong
consequences. Question: Do you plan to stop such
surgeries until a child is able to make its own decision? Unofficial Trancript:

«Another question on intersex children. The Committee is concerned about
the still existing practice of non-consensual genital mutilation as well as
other detrimental procedures that are imposed on intersex children in various
clinics in Spain.

Such surgeries and procedures, which are often unnecessary and are
always very painful produce life-long negative consequences and I don’t have
time to develop this issue, I believe you are familiar with all the problems
that are accompanying.

So my question is: do you plan to stop such surgeries or procedures and
postpone them until later time when a child is able to make his or her own
decision or at least participate in decision making, and perhaps when it turned
out that such a surgery is not necessary at all.»

12:58h: Session adjourned until 3 pm ...

Session 2, Mon 22.01.2018, 15-18h CET

15:40h: (Video
@ 39:16) Answer on intersex by Ms. Sagrario
Mateu (Chief Health Services for Mothers and Children)!Says
children are dealt with in primary health services, which do a good
job, although they are overburdened, and is supported by scientific
community. Genital mutilation is a very complex issue, no specific
figures available here. Best thing is to wait. Children are also
referred to specialised services.Unofficial
transcript (of UN simultaneous translation from original Spanish):

«You also asked about intersex children, and in answer to this I can say
that intersex children are dealt with within the primary health care services.
They are overburdened but work very well and do have common protocols. They are
heavily supported by the scientific communities and work well.

So intersex children are seen just like any other child in mainstream
primary health care services, and the question of mutilations or surgical
operations, I think these are very complex issues, I really don’t have specific
figures for you here, but I know that it’s something that child health care
professionals do deal with. We have to look at the hormonal development of
these children when it’s not very clear how the development will take
place.

There are once again in this area some communities that work better than
others, but it’s I think obviously the best thing to do is to wait in the case
of intersex children, and primary health care service refer cases to
specialised health care services if appropriate.»

15:43h: (Video
@ 43:19) YAY!! Committee expert and CRC vice chairperson
Mr. José Rodríguez Reyes follows up on
intersex! Asks if there are systems in place for
statistical collection? Are there manuals for
training of health care staff? Are there any legal
provisions?Unofficial transcript (of UN
simultaneous translation from original Spanish):

«Thank you, good afternoon, and my greetings to the distinguished
delegation that is here with us this afternoon.

You have been telling us that you have very few cases of intersex
children. I wonder whether you have any statistical collection system to know
exactly how many intersex children there are in Spain, and whether you have any
practical manuals or training which is provided to health care staff precisely
so they can become more familiar with this issue.

And finally whether you have any legal provisions that relate to
intersex children.»

15:44h: (Video
@ 44:12) Follow-up answer on intersex by
Ms. Sagrario Mateu (Chief Health Services for
Mothers and Children):There is no national register,
autonomous communities collect own data. Some have manuals and legislation,
others not. National Health System is aware, children can also
be sent to regional centers for treatment. Plus she simply ignored the
question about legal privisions!Unofficial
transcription (of UN simultaneous translation from original
Spanish):

«Thank you, Sir, for that question. We don’t have a national register
because we don’t have a national assistance register in Spain. All of the
autonomous Communities collect their own data, and obviously, if we want to
re-evaluate policy at the central level then we have to ask the Communities for
their figures.

And guides on intersex children, well, there are such guides, there are
autonomous Communities that have such good guides in place. The scientific
community is also involved here and it works very well in this area, as well as
training is concerned, while at the national level I believe that this is
training which is being attempted at the autonomous Community level, because
the intersex child must be seen by someone who has been trained whether they
are operated on or not.

There is no national register, I would repeat, but the health care
system is aware of these children. So it is a question of how the system is
coordinated.»

Intersex Genital Mutilations • 17 Most Common
Forms
HumanRights Violations Of Children With Variations Of Sex
AnatomyIGM – Historical
Overview•What is
Intersex?•How Common are
IGMs?>>>
Download PDF (3.65 MB)>>>Table
of Contents

"Human Rights For Hermaphrodites Too!"

StopIGM.org is an international human rights NGO of survivors and allies fighting Intersex Genital Mutilations (IGM) in children's clinics, and for the right to physical integrity and self determination for all children born with 'atypical genitalia', or Variations of Sex Anatomy. IGM Practices are a serious human rights violation and MUST STOP.